Higher Education Reporter

Date Posted	July 17, 2026
Industry	Newspapers
Specialty	Education
Job Status	Full-time
Salary	Not Specified

Description:

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the state’s newspaper, and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are seeking a smart, skilled journalist to cover higher education, focusing on the University of Arkansas, the public flagship. This position will be based in Fayetteville but will work with editors there and in Little Rock.

Our roots in this state run deep, and so does our commitment to ensuring our reporting thoroughly informs readers about their state and the issues that matter most. We expect our journalism to lead Arkansas and America for its comprehensiveness, relevance to our readers, impact on their lives and painstaking objectivity in pursuit of truth.

We are looking for a relentless digger with an eye for the stories that matter, someone who knows how to develop sources and find and pore through records. This reporter will be a creative problem-solver able to find his or her way to the story despite the obstacles that inevitably arise. We expect this reporter to own University of Arkansas coverage. The ability to deliver sharp, clean, accurate copy that compels readers to read on is also critical.

If all this sounds like you, we want to hear from you. Email a resume with three samples of your best work (with both story links and pdfs that display the full text of the stories) to Dave Perozek, managing editor of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, dperozek@nwaonline.com. Please ensure the subject line reads: Higher education reporter. Hint: Following these instructions is an essential first step to being considered for the job.

The benefits package includes paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, personal days, and parental leave to support a healthy work-life balance. Health, dental, vision, and additional insurance coverage are provided, along with long-term disability insurance and retirement plans. Employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program and behavioral health support, offering confidential resources for personal and professional challenges.

This is a safety-sensitive position. Candidate must pass drug screening and background checks.

We are an equal opportunity organization and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.